What a night! My book will forever have a silver sticker on its cover, and I’ll forever have this love on my arm. Thrilled to be a part of this whole thing that is the National Book Awards. What an exhilarating couple of days. Thank you all for the love and support!
SO many congratulations to Elizabeth Acevedo! Her POET X is brilliant, as is she. Her speech was moving and inspiring—which should come as no surprise to anyone who has had the opportunity to hear her. So if you have yet to read POET X—get on that!
It’s in the details! My editor, David Levithan, and art director, Phil Falco, surprised me with touches of burnt orange. David with his tie and cummerbund, Phil with his pocket square and socks. (Plus, Phil’s tux was navy blue.) Pure book love and support.
In the fall of 1999, when I was schlepping my portfolio around to publishers, I wandered into Books Of Wonder. What hope it gave me. I signed a few books for them at last night’s event for the National Book Award Finalists…
From readings in hallowed venues all across to a celebration at Scholastic to the red carpet. WOW! What a trip to be a National Book Award Finalist. Here are a whole mess of photos from my experience. Honored to be there with Leslie, Tobin, Eugene, Liz, and CPC.
